He met his wife, Sue, 45, when the pair attended Portsmouth Polytechnic, where Mr Simpson studied economics. They had been married for nearly 16 years.

Mr Simpson grew up in the area, living in Wokingham for 39 years in total, moving away only to study at Portsmouth and then later at The University of Reading.

He had two sons, Stuart, 13, who attends Reading School, and Lewis, 11, who goes to his dad’s old school, The Emmbrook in Emmbrook Road.

Mrs Simpson described Mr Simpson as very funny and a man who enjoyed going out with his friends and spending time with his family.

Mr Simpson’s outgoing nature and sense of humour earned him a large circle of friends in Wokingham, many from the AFC Dukes pub football team he had played for since the early 1990s.

As team captain, he was involved with creating a video to enter a Four Four Two football magazine competition to show the spirit behind local clubs, and it went on to win top prize in 1995.

Jacqui Turner, whose husband David met Mr Simpson playing for the club which lead to the families becoming firm friends, said: “David did a bit on his own, a parody of a football TV programme at the time called the Captain Speaks.

“It was typical of his sense of humour and it was shown at the Royal Festival Hall in London.”

A keen guitar player, Mr Simpson had a large collection of the musical instruments at home and loved playing all types and styles of music, but he particularly shared his love of country music with his father Joe.

Originally from Scotland, friends report Mr Simpson’s Scottish accent only became apparent when his dad or mother Wynne were visiting.

Mrs Simpson said: “He was very family-orientated and a thoroughly decent bloke.”

Neil Cubbage, who now lives in Cardiff but was born and raised in Wokingham, recalls his first day at The Emmbrook aged 11 when he met Mr Simpson, who also leaves behind a brother, Alan.

Mr Cubbage, 46, and Mr Simpson did not get off to the best start when they were sent to the headteacher’s office for fighting, but soon formed a friendship that lasted into adulthood.

Father of two Mr Cubbage said: “On the first day he was the only one wearing shorts, so you can imagine what the kids were like. That was a very memorable occasion.”

Mr Cubbage described Mr Simpson as a popular man who loved his family.

He said: “He was a great friend and he loved a good debate, a good old conversation.

“He was genuinely interested in people and what they had to say.

“If someone was sitting there not saying anything, he would get them in the conversation one way or another, whether by saying something controversial or just general conversation.

“He had a distinctive kind of humour.

“He will be missed a huge amount.

“Most people are still in shock, I am still in shock.”

Instead of flowers at Mr Simpson’s funeral, mourners are being asked to make a donation to the Make-A-Wish Foundation, which grants the wishes of children with life-threatening illnesses.

Mrs Simpson said: “While on holiday [in Florida] in August we saw a few families with ‘Make-A-Wish’ T-shirts on and David commented what a fantastic charity, so we have decided against flowers at the funeral to have donations to them.”

Mrs Simpson has set up a webpage where friends and family can donate to the charity in Mr Simpson’s memory. To donate visit www.justgiving.com/suesimpson .

Alternatively, donations can be given to Brian Bentley Funeral Services in Crowthorne.

The funeral for Mr Simpson will take place next Friday (October 2) at Easthampstead Crematorium in Nine Mile Ride, Bracknell, at 11.15am. Following the service, the family invites mourners to Cantley House Hotel in Milton Road, Wokingham.